Page:Imitation-of-christ-1901.djvu/88

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74
Of Familiar Converse with Jesus.

wind; for that all flesh is grass, and all the glory thereof shall wither away as the flower of the field.

3. Thou wilt quickly be deceived, if thou only look to the outward appearance of men.

For, if in others thou seekest thy comfort and thy profit, thou shalt often feel loss.

If thou seekest Jesus in all things, thou shalt surely find Jesus.

But if thou seekest thyself, thou shalt also find thyself, to thine own destruction.

For if a man do not seek Jesus, he doth more hurt himself, than could the whole world and all his enemies.

CHAPTER VIII.

OF FAMILIAR CONVERSE WITH JESUS.

WHEN Jesus is present, all is well, and nothing seems difficult; but when Jesus is absent every thing is hard.

When Jesus speaks not inwardly to us all other comfort is worth nothing; but if Jesus speak but one word, we feel great consolation.

Did not Mary Magdalene rise immediately from the place where she wept, when Martha said to her, "The Master is come, and calleth for thee"?

Happy hour! when Jesus calleth from tears to spiritual joy.

How dry and hard art thou without Jesus! How